When life gives you soursop, make tea.

Then throw a party.

Jeanne Vana has long been known for her tomatoes — the many varieties grown on her North Shore Farms land, as well as the fried green tomatoes she sells at farmers markets.

Last year Vana took on the management of Poamoho Agricultural Estate Orchard in Waialua. The crops added diversity to her farmers market booths, but one fruit proved difficult to sell: “Nobody was buying the soursop,” Vana said.

It is an odd-looking thing and not everyone understands how to get to the creamy sweetness within the bumpy skin.

So Vana started making tea with the soursop leaves, which led to the idea of outdoor tea parties, staged in a shady area across the lane from her North Shore Farms booth at the weekly farmers market at Kapiolani Community College.

Vana also uses soursop in juice, whipped cream and preserves that go into her many sweet and savory pastries.

Her just-introduced $15 tea service comes with a pot of tea and about 10 little bites, from scones to stuffed French toast to tea sandwiches. A First Tea Party menu is designed for kids, and a picnic menu offers various choices packed to go.

It’s billed as a farm-to-table tea, and incorporates fresh local fruit and vegetables that change with the seasons, as well as local honey, chocolate from Waialua, rum from Kunia and more. Vana does all the baking herself.

Coming into season are mulberries, so Vana is working on a mulberry tea.

Tea is served from 8 to 10:15 a.m. Saturdays. Walk-ins are welcome but the space only seats 12 so reservations are suggested for parties of three or more; call 389-6255.

— Betty Shimabukuro, Star-Advertiser

BUILD FRIENDSHIP, DELICIOUSLY

There’s no better way to kick off an event than with a lot of good food, and the 24th Annual Honolulu Festival does just that Friday with the Friendship Gala.

The event features cuisine from Artizen by MW, Eating House 1849 Waikiki, Nico’s Pier 38, Chef Chai, 12th Ave Grill, Stripsteak Waikiki, Eat Honolulu, Halekulani and Honolulu Coffee Co.

The gala runs 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center. Proceeds benefit the festival’s cultural and educational programs for isle students and schools.

Tickets: $90, $70 for those under 21, free to ages 6 and under. Go to honolulufestival.com and click on “friendship gala.”

FESTIVAL PROCEEDS SET RECORD

Last fall’s Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival raised a record $414,000 for 23 nonprofit groups. Checks were distributed at a reception Monday at Mariposa at Neiman Marcus.

The seventh annual festival ran Oct. 20 to Nov. 5, drawing more than 10,000 participants to events held on three islands.

The top recipients were the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, $80,000; and the Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation, $70,000. Imua Family Services and the Kapiolani Community College culinary arts program received $50,000 each. Further donations to individual groups ranged from $500 to $25,000.

The 2018 festival runs Oct. 6 to 28. A kickoff dinner May 9, featuring guest chef Jeremiah Tower, and a gala May 11, will mark the announcement of this year’s talent and themes.

For updates visit the website HawaiiFoodandWineFestival.com or follow HFWF on social media.